PHF Secretary Hussain pleads for support as crisis worsens

KARACHI: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Secretary Haider Hussain has painted a deplorable picture of the country’s national sport ahead of the FIH Nations Cup in South Africa.

While speaking during Geo News programme "Geo Pakistan", Hussain said that the government needs to step up for the betterment of hockey in the country.

“It [hockey] only needs a bit of time. I have told the Pakistani government to just give us one and a half years and we will get stable and emerge as a big product. We have also asked to meet him [Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif] so that we can tell him future plans for hockey,” said Hussain.

"Our team did not slide down from 10 to 18 in rankings by playing a game, it happened because we didn't play the Hockey Pro League," he said while adding that if the team doesn't go to South Africa, then it would slide down on 21 on rankings.

Talking about a single tour, the secretary said that around Rs8 million is required just for tickets with the players needing Rs20,000 as daily allowance.

Talking about the South Africa tour, Hussain said that Pakistan team “will participate at any cost”. He also revealed that the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has sent a message to give 17 tickets, however, we haven't received any email.

When asked about the standard number of players in a hockey squad to tour another country, Hussain said that 18 players — with two others on standby — go with the team that includes eight officials such as a physiotherapist, cameraman, manager, video analyst and coaches.

The PHF secretary said that Pakistan’s first match is on November 28, and the management doesn't know whether the team will reach on 26 or 27 as they are waiting for the visa.

"The people there are the same as the people in the institution. There is Irshad Sahib, who is not entertaining. When Saeed Khan called him on the phone, he responded by saying 'how many people have my number, as if he is the president of America," Hussain said.

Importance of FIH Nations Cup

The FIH Nations Cup offers top-level competition to the best-ranked teams not participating in the FIH Hockey Pro League and gives the winning team the option to be promoted to the FIH Hockey Pro League next season. Therefore, the FIH Hockey Nations Cup marks the start of the promotion-relegation principle for the FIH Hockey Pro League, with the winning team of the first FIH Hockey Nations Cup having the chance to be promoted to the 2023-24 FIH Hockey Pro League.

The FIH Pro League champions in 2023-24 and 2024-25 will earn direct qualification to their respective 2026 Hockey World Cups. The winners in 2025-26 and 2026-27 will then qualify for the 2028 Olympics.

The FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup will take place at the North-West University of Potchefstroom, South Africa, from 28 November to 4 December 2022.

Pakistan are placed in Pool A alongside France, Ireland and hosts South Africa. Meanwhile, Canada, Japan, Korea and Malaysia are part of Pool B.

Top two teams from each pool will qualify for the semi-finals of the event.

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